England vs India: Ben Stokes’ side show adaptability on ‘anti-Bazball’ Lord’s day – but is captain’s fitness ‘a big problem?’ | Cricket News

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There was no thunderous margin on the first day of the Lord’s test, far from it.

England bazballers are generally in a career, but the rate one Thursday in the sun was an old-fashioned 3.02, the hosts closed 251-4 on a slow bridge after choosing to beat against India.

An anti-baz-ball day, like Sky Sports Cricket’s’ Nasser Hussain called her on the comments.

Joe Root paved the way with an undefeated 99 of 191 bullets, while Ollie Pope (44 OFF 104) parked many of her usual attacker instincts when the hosts showed adaptability and change in mind that Captain Ben Stokes had called before the series.

Speaking to Stums, Pope, who was Crestfoln after being sent back from the first ball after tea, said: “It was not necessarily the way we are used to making a first round but 251-4 is a very good score. I hope we can now take it north of 400, perhaps 500.

“We would have liked a little more, but given the nature of the surface, and the way India bordered, it is one day that we will take.

“We had to adapt the way we play – it’s something that we are constantly trying to be better, determine when to press the button and when absorb the pressure.

“It’s about improving as a team and reading situations. I just tried to play the percentages. I have the impression of trusting my defense a little more.”

Is Stokes’ injury a big problem?

Root, a leak from a 37th test of one hundred 11th against India alone, put 109 to 211 balls with Pope for the third counter in England, then an uninterrupted 79 of 170 with Captain Stokes (39no), whose physical shape was a warm subject in Stumps.

The skipper had trouble with what seemed to be a groin injury, which apparently came after playing harmless leave, and moved extremely with precaution towards the end of the day, leaving Sky Sports Pundit and former English teammate Stuart Broad concerned.

Broad said Stokes, who only returned from an injury to the hamstrings in May: “I don’t know exactly what it is – but that’s a big problem.

“He has a huge threshold of pain, so for him to drink, feels him and even dream of calling for the physio, it’s a big problem. England will work tirelessly on him. I hope he stops better but it’s worrying.”

The vice-captain Pope could not offer any update on Stokes, but said that one of his jobs as a versatile deputy is to ensure that he takes care of himself.

Pope added: “The fingers crossed, he can do something magical and come back strong. One of my roles is to make sure that he does not push himself to a ridiculous place.”

“Exceptional” root adaptations under conditions

All eyes on the current skipper, but how much did the predecessor root of Stokes play well on the surface of the heaviest Lord?

Sky Sports’ Dinesh Karthik said: “I don’t think it’s his most common day, but big strikers don’t need to beat their best to get shopping.

“They find a way, even on difficult days, to cringe it, to make it count, because the biggest goal is to bring your team to a good place. Root did it.”

Large added: “The root is exceptional to determine the conditions and to adapt. It was not the type of step where you can hit the ball on the top. There is no mastery.

“He realized that if he played with soft hands, Nicks was not necessarily going to go to the sheets, so he sought to beat and score races almost in the old way.

“The terrain does not allow flamboyance, so he had to work hard – but he likes it.”

Look at the second day of the third test between England and India, in Lord’s, live Sky Sports Cricket And Main Sky Sports event From 10:15 am on Friday (11 a.m. from the first ball) or stream without contract.